Acts 20:13-38

13But 1we went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for that was what he had arranged, intending himself to go 2by land. 14And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day we came to 3Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past 4Ephesus so that he would not have to lose time in 56Asia; for he was hurrying, if it might be possible for him 7to be in Jerusalem 8the day of Pentecost.

17From Miletus he sent word to 9Ephesus and called to himself 10the elders of the church. 18And when they came to him, he said to them,

“You yourselves know, 11from the first day that I set foot in 12Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came upon me 13through 14the plots of the Jews; 20how I 15did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was beneficial, and teaching you publicly and 16from house to house, 21solemnly 17testifying to both Jews and Greeks of 18repentance toward God and 19faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, bound by the 20Spirit, 21I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that 22the Holy Spirit solemnly 23testifies to me in every city, saying that 24chains and afflictions await me. 24But 25I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may 26finish my course and 27the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to 28testify solemnly of the gospel of 29God’s grace.

25“And now behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about 30preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26Therefore, I 31testify to you this day that 32I am 33innocent of the blood of all people. 27For I 34did not shrink from declaring to you the whole 35purpose of God. 28Be on guard for yourselves and for all 36the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you 37overseers, to shepherd 38the church of God which 39He 40purchased 41with His own blood. 29I know that after my departure 42savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing 43the flock; 30and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away 44the disciples after them. 31Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of 45three years I did not cease to admonish each one 46with tears. 32And now I 47entrust you to God and to 48the word of His grace, which is able to 49build you up and to give you 50the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 3351I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34You yourselves know that 52these hands served my own needs and the 53men who were with me. 35In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36When he had said these things, he 54knelt down and prayed with them all. 37And 55they all began to weep aloud and 5657embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 3858grieving especially over 59the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were 60accompanying him to the ship.